Cardinal Bernard Law apologized in 2002 to more than 130 people abused by the Rev. John Geoghan for having known about Geoghan’s history of child molestation and letting him remain a priest. Geoghan was just one of many priests Law allowed to continue working under his watch.

The apology: “Judgments were made regarding the assignment of John Geoghan which, in retrospect, were tragically incorrect.’’